Sharks winger thriving on top line: It's two first class players I'm playing with

SAN JOSE — The Sharks knew they had acquired a left winger in Evander Kane who could make a seamless transition into their top six forward group. They also felt that captain Joe Pavelski was the right player to center a line with Kane.

What they didn’t immediately know was who would be the perfect fit to play right wing alongside both players.

Enter Joonas Donskoi, who, despite some up-and-down moments statistically this season, hasn’t wavered with his energy level and remains one of the Sharks’ most-skilled puck-handlers.

“We didn’t know if it would be (a fit) or not.” Sharks coach Pete DeBoer said. “I sat down and had a conversation with (Pavelski) and (Donskoi) brings a lot of the same qualities. He’s a puck hound., he’ll go get it and he’ll hang onto it.”

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So far, Donskoi’s play with Pavelski and Kane has been everything the Sharks have hoped for, as the trio has combined for 12 points in two games. Donskoi himself has three points, the same number of times he was on the scoresheet through the first 13 games in February.

“It’s two first class players I’m playing with, and I feel like we found chemistry right away,” Donskoi said, “(Kane’s) fast. I feel like he can create room for me and Pav with his speed, and he’s so strong on the puck. He’s been fun to play with.”

Donskoi has been on the Sharks’ top line with Pavelski before, most recently as last month. But he also spent some time with Logan Couture and Chris Tierney on either the Sharks’ second or third lines.

There’s never really been a permanent address, as he entered Sunday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets with 27 points in 57 games.

“I don’t pay as much attention to (stats) as maybe you guys do,” DeBoer said. “I look more at, are they competing, are they creating stuff? Is he doing the stuff that he needs to do, which is win battles and hang onto the puck, create chances. If they’re just not going in, that’s OK.

“I never worry about effort with him or whether his heart’s in the right place. It’s just, there’s ups and downs all year.”

For now, at least, it looks like Donskoi’s found a home.

“Right now, the last couple games, it’s been pretty good. Especially with this new line,” Donskoi said. “But there’s been some up and downs. I don’t feel like I’ve been at my best level all year long.

“Some games it’s been good, some days it’s been brought down. That’s something I’m focusing on now for the rest of the season with the playoffs coming up. I want to be playing my best every game.”

? Center Eric Fehr was a full participant in Saturday’s practice and is on track to play against the Blue Jackets after he was scratched from Thursday’s game against Chicago with a minor injury. Joining him on the Sharks’ fourth line were Barclay Goodrow and Melker Karlsson. It appears Jannik Hansen and Marcus Sorensen will be the forwards scratched for Sunday’s game.